Next Generation Melvyl Pilot
Beginning May 27, researchers may have noted a new search box available on the Library’s webpage and in the UC Melvyl Catalog for “Next Generation Melvyl.” This is a pilot, combining the capability to search catalogs for UCLA, UC Libraries, and libraries worldwide (via WorldCat) simulteneously. It also includes some journal article indexing. There is a news item about this trial in the Spring 2008 Library News for the Faculty. Our current UCLA Catalog and the existing Melvyl Catalog will both still be up and running during the trial.
The interface for Next Generation Melvyl has different features that have not been available before in our library catalog, such as the ability to log in and write reviews, find books in Amazon.com, bookmark items using del.icio.us and other tools, and find UC books digitized by Google. It’s also important to note what is NOT included in the current pilot, most specifically “affiliated” collections like the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Ethnomusicology Archive, and the ability to search course reserve titles or sign in to personal account info. I recommend reading the “Help” documentation for Next Generation Melvyl, which explains how to search and frequently asked questions.
Finally, we want to encourage all library users to fill out the survey form on Next Generation Melvyl after giving it a try. Your feedback on this trial is very important.
